Random Comics News Story Round-Up
* Brian Cronin digs into the Mexican Spider-Man comic not killing Gwen Stacy thing and concludes it wasn't a push-away-from-a-storyline issue but the publisher doing new material to extend its reprint options. That's still super-interesting.

* Gary Tyrrell writes about Lucy Knisley's latest tour, which I put here in part to remind myself to check if I covered it on this site.

* there are several ways to read this cartoon; they are all depressing.

* I'm told Non Sequitur may have lost more papers for the Fuck Trump flourish than any single one-day circumstance driving cancellations. This article suggests a slow-down on papers throwing in the towel. Wiley Miller is more prepared than most to manage a giant bloodletting like this one, but it can't be easy.

* there's an open letter at the Festival Workers Association site from a number of cartoonists regarding changes they'd like to see with show. I'm in fully agreement with about half of these and sympathetic to the rest. I'm thrilled to see a comics group advocate for a better situation for cartoonists, and hope that we all end up on the better side of things. I'm happy to engage with any of the issues raised via e-mail.

* the heart of the MSU Comics Forum roars to life tomorrow. If Angouleme is the first start to the festival year generally and ECCC the mainstream/indie side of thing, you can argue the Forum is the opening bell for academic conferences and alt-shows. Go if you can: Seth and Qianna Whitted are both excellent speakers.

That's a fun and prestigious project in which Stevens has participated I've completely neglected due to blogging malfeasance. I'm trying to carve out time for a short interview with cartoonist and director, so fingers crossed. In the meantime enjoy the above and Rob Salkowitz's article at Forbes.com.

Dylan Horrocks And Michel Vrana Making Available Pickle #11 Through Pre-Ordering Campaign

Here. I think this is pretty straight-forward and easy to understand. I'll enjoy having the issue. I thought Pickle one of the best series of the 1990s, a decade stuffed with quality series. I would love to see similar campaigns for similarly "lost" comics.